The winner of an Emmy, a Peabody, and an Edgar Award for his forays into various media, Charles Kipps takes us back to the gritty streets of New York City for this sequel to Hell's Kitchen Homicide, again in the agreeable company of guitar-playing cop Conor Bard.

"Kipps, who has also written for television dramas, including Columbo, tells a gripping story about a murdered diamond dealer, a missing priceless gem, and an assortment of potential suspects, including a rejected suitor, a billionaire, and a South African police inspector. The author writes in a straightforward, unadorned style: dialogue is brief and to the point, and narrative passages are lean and uncluttered. This just-the-facts style propels the reader through the book swiftly and with great satisfaction, much in the manner of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels. Conor Bard, a strong and well-drawn protagonist, could be around for a while."—Booklist

"I've worked cases in the Diamond District and know the evidence can send you in many directions. Following Detective Conor Bard as he finds himself in the middle of a bizarre gem trade murder proves to be a fascinating read, a real page-turner. Conor Bard is—as NYPD detectives are known to be—truly one of the greatest detectives in the world."—Gerard McCarthy